meanmutton:Okay, I'm thinking -- what could possibly be similar in our culture? Accidentally using the N-word to refer to President Obama? Using the middle finger to point to the ceiling or something? Talking with food in his mouth? Slapping Secretary Clinton on the ass?

1) This guy is their chief diplomat. Why is it unreasonable to expect him to realize that the particular superstition that has upset him is held by a minority of the world's population, and the person he's speaking to is probably unaware of breaching it? Should we be thrilled that their chief diplomat is playing "insult swap" with someone who's completely unaware that they're even playing?

2) Give me an example of our Head of State doing the equivalent of this.

That's it. If you're so obviously justified, responding without namecalling should be simple for you.

Sorry, just don't care for your attitude. So you don't care for this particular insult.

Stop being a jackass about it. You sound like some Republican threatening to bomb Iran into being a democratic nation we can control.

I'm annoyed as the next person when it comes to nitpicking about trivial things, but this is a huge cultural faux-pas, one of the worst possible things you can do in a Muslim country. And the fact that it was a diplomat who did it is really inexcusable.

/grew up in the Middle East//dad was a diplomat///they had to recall one diplomat when they discovered that his last name meant "fart" in the local vernacular

CheekyMonkey: In some cultures, burping after a meal is a sign of respect for the chef, in others, it's considered vulgar. Is either interpretation empirically correct? No.

Where does cropdusting fit in with this? Is there a culture where that is considered a stellar endorsement? Or is that too subtle and stealthy? Any cultures where a three alarm paint peeler is considered to say "My compliments to the chef!"?

StashMonster:I have heard of this insult before. There are places where waving at someone is an insult, and so on. You need to check these things when travelling to foreign countries, if you don't want to accidentally piss off random people and look like a dick. Also, to know when people are signalling their local equivalent of the finger.

Abuse Liability:sprawl15: whidbey: We reconstructed Japan and Germany after a war.

This.

We didn't build the nation, we reconstructed it. HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE difference.

No, if anybody had read the link, they would be aware we didn't merely reconstuct Japan. We replaced the government and placed a multitude of military (and other) sanctions ensuring our safety and producing a more cohesive, united population in the aftermath of a terrible war. The very definition of nation building. why... do... I... continue... arguing...

That's really funny.Especially when we consider STONING A WOMAN TO DEATH to be offensive.Why the fark do we (normal humans) always have to respect 'tarded values but they only have to be offended by every little thing.

And this coming from a culture whose people blow their noses onto the ground before going into a mosque to pray to Allah. No wonder Ahmadinejad was offended. The bottom of the diplomat's shoes were probably covered in snot rockets from the locals spewing their nostril semen all over the place.

/read "Three Cups of Tea"//I know everything there is to know about Islam thanks to one book

bobbette:Cultural customs are cultural customs, people. It would be rude if someone came to America and picked their nose or scratched their ass while meeting with Obama.

Yes it would, but you wouldn't expect the prsident to furiously pick their nose back, do you?

bobbette:The Swedish ambassador did insult his hosts in the meeting. Given that he is a professional diplomat, he farked up

Nobody is doubting that, but it is still fair to point out this is a stupid insult that makes sitting in a circle comfotably (as well as many other interactions in any modern city) impossible, and that the presidents response was very childish.

Balls in Email? I told you, I don't have any. I suppose I could go find a random set of berries out there on the internets and send them to you. I hear there's a squirrel running around here with a pair that really are quite impressive. Seems like a lot of work for a glimpse of rodent stones, but hey. Whatever floats your boat.

Okay, I'm thinking -- what could possibly be similar in our culture? Accidentally using the N-word to refer to President Obama? Using the middle finger to point to the ceiling or something? Talking with food in his mouth? Slapping Secretary Clinton on the ass?

When you visit an islamic shiathole you better learn the proper tribal moronic customs. He should have leaned to Ahmadinejad and whisper "you know i'm gay, right ? and how is your good wife doing ?" to really piss him off.